I found one of my hens laying lopsided in the dirt Sunday afternoon. When I approached her, she sort of fluttered around and I realized that her left leg was hurting her. It was stuck out in front with the toes curled. She seemed like she was in pain at first, so I gave her a baby aspirin with her food and let her relax in a pet carrier in the house.
The next morning, she wasn't in pain. In fact, she was clucking and seemed very alert and happy. She eats and drinks very well. I examined her leg and can't figure out what the injury could be! I checked for bumblefoot and there aren't any fractures in the bones. I think it's more injury-related rather than something like Marek's because she had a scratch on her comb with a a little blood, almost like she fell or maybe jumped in the coop awkwardly.
It's been two days since her injury and he hasn't seemed to make any progress. I've put her outside with the other girls each morning and she can start to stand a little, but she can't balance and she can't walk at all. She just lays and keeps her left leg in front or to the side.
I don't know what her injury could be, and I've read plenty of threads on here that seem related, but I haven't seen a direct response. Will her leg heal in time and with proper care, or will she forever be crippled? I'd hate to cull her because her quality of life seems pretty good, otherwise. She loves eating pumpkin and scrambled eggs as extra treats now that she's in the house!
The next morning, she wasn't in pain. In fact, she was clucking and seemed very alert and happy. She eats and drinks very well. I examined her leg and can't figure out what the injury could be! I checked for bumblefoot and there aren't any fractures in the bones. I think it's more injury-related rather than something like Marek's because she had a scratch on her comb with a a little blood, almost like she fell or maybe jumped in the coop awkwardly.
It's been two days since her injury and he hasn't seemed to make any progress. I've put her outside with the other girls each morning and she can start to stand a little, but she can't balance and she can't walk at all. She just lays and keeps her left leg in front or to the side.
I don't know what her injury could be, and I've read plenty of threads on here that seem related, but I haven't seen a direct response. Will her leg heal in time and with proper care, or will she forever be crippled? I'd hate to cull her because her quality of life seems pretty good, otherwise. She loves eating pumpkin and scrambled eggs as extra treats now that she's in the house!